Systems and methods for providing geolocation services in a mobile-based crowdsourcing platform

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing geolocation services in a mobile-based crowdsourcing platform store a layout or floor plan of an environment including landmarks and objects in the environment, receive notification of an emergency at an emergency location within the environment, identify a mobile device in proximity to the emergency based on the emergency location, identify a landmark or object that is relevant to the emergency and is in proximity to the identified mobile device, and transmit an alert to the mobile device identifying the emergency, the emergency location, the landmark or object, and a location of the landmark or object within the environment. Depending on the type of emergency, the landmark or object may include, for example, an emergency exit, a piece of equipment for a medical emergency (e.g., a defibrillator or medical kit), a piece of equipment for a fire emergency (e.g., a fire hose or fire extinguisher), etc.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for providing geolocation services in a mobile-based crowdsourcing platform, the system comprising:
 a server system configured to implement a crowdsourcing platform and to communicate with and exchange data with mobile devices via the crowdsourcing platform, the server system comprising at least one processor coupled to memory containing instructions executable by the at least one processor to cause the server system to:   store a layout or floor plan of an environment including landmarks and objects in the environment;   receive, via the crowdsourcing platform, notification of an emergency at an emergency location within the environment;   identify, using the stored layout or floor plan of the environment, a mobile device in proximity to the emergency based on the emergency location;   identify, using the stored layout or floor plan of the environment, a landmark or object that is relevant to the emergency and is in proximity to the identified mobile device; and   transmit an alert to the mobile device identifying the emergency, the emergency location, the landmark or object, and a location of the landmark or object within the environment.   
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the environment is an indoor environment. 
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the server system determines a location of the mobile device from crowdsourced user location and movement data. 
     
     
         4 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the landmark or object includes an emergency exit. 
     
     
         5 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the landmark or object includes a piece of equipment for a medical emergency. 
     
     
         6 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the landmark or object includes a piece of equipment for a fire emergency. 
     
     
         7 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein server system generates and updates the layout or floor plan of the environment from crowdsourced user location and movement data. 
     
     
         8 . A system according to  claim 1 , the mobile devices are selected from the group consisting of a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a mobile computing device, a smart phone, and a cellular telephone. 
     
     
         9 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the server system and the mobile devices are configured to wirelessly communicate and exchange data with one another over a network. 
     
     
         10 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the communication and exchange of data between the server systems and the mobile devices is provided via a cloud-based service. 
     
     
         11 . A method for providing geolocation services in a mobile-based crowdsourcing platform, the method comprising:
 providing a server system configured to implement a crowdsourcing platform and to communicate with and exchange data with mobile devices via the crowdsourcing platform;   storing a layout or floor plan of an environment including landmarks and objects in the environment;   receiving, via the crowdsourcing platform, notification of an emergency at an emergency location within the environment;   receiving, using the stored layout or floor plan of the environment, a mobile device in proximity to the emergency based on the emergency location;   identifying, using the stored layout or floor plan of the environment, a landmark or object that is relevant to the emergency and is in proximity to the identified mobile device; and   transmitting an alert to the mobile device identifying the emergency, the emergency location, the landmark or object, and a location of the landmark or object within the environment.   
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the environment is an indoor environment. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the server system determines a location of the mobile device from crowdsourced user location and movement data. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the landmark or object includes an emergency exit. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the landmark or object includes a piece of equipment for a medical emergency. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the landmark or object includes a piece of equipment for a fire emergency. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein server system generates and updates the layout or floor plan of the environment from crowdsourced user location and movement data. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 11 , the mobile devices are selected from the group consisting of a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a mobile computing device, a smart phone, and a cellular telephone. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the server system and the mobile devices are configured to wirelessly communicate and exchange data with one another over a network. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the communication and exchange of data between the server systems and the mobile devices is provided via a cloud-based service.